Two-week Eid festival will see malls open 24|7

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has announced that ‘Eid in Dubai,’ the family shopping, leisure and entertainment extravaganza hosted by the city to coincide with Eid Al Adha celebrations, will be extended to two weeks, with all participating shopping malls to be operational 24 hours a day.

Eid in Dubai, organised by the Dubai Events & Promotions Establishment, will now be held for two weeks from October 18, 2012, offering fun-filled festivities in the city, a significant expansion of the earlier planned four-day celebration from October 26 to 29.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed said: “We welcome our brothers and sisters from the Gulf region and across the world to experience the hospitality and unique cultural experiences that Dubai will offer this Eid.

“Families are the building blocks of our society, and we want even more of them to enjoy the celebratory spirit of Eid here in Dubai.”

Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai Events & Promotions Establishment (DEPE), said: “We are grateful to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed for providing a guiding vision and clear direction for Eid in Dubai and other upcoming events in our city.

“We will carry out these activities with all our passion and commitment.”

Alabbar added: “Tourism, retail and hospitality are key drivers of Dubai’s economy, and continue to record robust growth.

“By extending Eid in Dubai celebrations and ensuring the support of the retail, events and hospitality sectors to provide our visitors with round-the-clock service, we have established Dubai as the must-visit destination during Eid Al Adha.

“Eid in Dubai will be one of the headline events in Dubai’s festival calendar, further highlighting the city’s status as the events and entertainment capital of the region.”

To welcome visitors and provide the city’s residents with an unforgettable experience, Eid in Dubai will showcase an impressive line-up of entertainment activities headlined by some of the world’s most renowned artists. The city will also be spectacularly illuminated during Eid in Dubai celebrations, with special welcome awaiting visitors from the moment they arrive in Dubai.

Underscoring Dubai’s leadership status in the region, the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA), the world’s leading events trade association, recently crowned the city as the ‘IFEA World Festival and Event City 2012’ leading cities with a population of more than one million.

This accolade follows last year’s IFEA Award victory for Dubai in the same category for the Middle East.

In line with its focus on hosting mega-events that connect communities across the region and the globe, the UAE is bidding to host the 2020 World Expo in Dubai.

This six-month celebration of new ideas and international partnerships takes place only once every five years, and has never before been held in the Middle East, South Asia or Africa.

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